Democratic-NPL Statement on the Senate Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 2022

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
(701) 566-0616
[email protected]

Democratic-NPL Statement on the Senate Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson

Bismarck, ND – Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a proven track record of attracting bipartisan support in the Senate. She has now been confirmed four times on a bipartisan vote.

U.S. Senate Candidate Katrina Christiansen said, “Justice Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court is a joyous event. She is intelligent, exceedingly qualified and deserving of the role. The nation gained more than a judge today, we gained unequivocal momentum in the struggle for equality. It is disappointing but not surprising Senator Hoeven and Cramer voted against the confirmation. History had eyes on this vote.”

State Senator Kathy Hogan of Fargo said, “After following the U.S. Senate hearings, I am so excited she was confirmed! Not only is she extremely qualified professionally, but her personal listening skills and her ability to manage conflict in a deeply respectful way will be an asset to the Supreme Court.”

Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp said, “Bravo to everyone who made this historic nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court happen. President Biden who picked the most qualified candidate and yet again demonstrated that he follows through on his promises to deliver for the American people. All of the Senate Democrats who ensured her confirmation got across the finish line and that the diversity of America is reflected at the Supreme Court. And above all the impressive Ketanji Brown Jackson who not only showcased intelligence and legal acumen during the confirmation process, but also grace under pressure. She is an inspiration to many, especially the women and girls across this country who saw that the glass-ceiling can be broken at the highest level of our nation’s institutions.”

The U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Jackson 3 times prior to today. In 2009, President Obama nominated Jackson to be Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. She was later confirmed by unanimous consent in February 2010. In September 2012, President Obama nominated Jackson for a vacancy in the U.S. District Court for D.C. She was confirmed by voice vote in March of 2013. In April 2021, President Biden nominated Judge Jackson to the seat vacated by Attorney General Merrick Garland in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, often regarded as a training ground for the highest court in the land. She was confirmed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, with a 53-44 vote in the Senate, gaining the support of Senators Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, and Lisa Murkowski.

Democratic-NPL Executive Director Tyler Hogan affirmed, “Judge Jackson is the daughter of public school teachers, has served as an accomplished lawyer and public defender, a distinguished federal judge, and now, will be a historic member of the Supreme Court. It’s shameful that Senators Hoeven and Cramer would vote against confirming such a highly qualified, historic nominee. Even Kevin Cramer, himself, said, ‘She’s more than intellectually academically and experientially qualified.’ The Supreme Court is supposed to be above political party squabbling, and our Senators chose to give in the wishes of Mitch McConnell rather than doing the actual vetting process a Senator ought to.”

“In addition to this being a historic moment, confirming the first African American woman to the Supreme Court, we also need to celebrate confirming an extremely competent, well-trained, qualified person. Our last few Supreme Court Justices have been confirmed in the circus so many of us think of as Washington. Judge Jackson has shown she is cool under pressure and more than ready to do the job.” said Democratic-NPL Party Chair Patrick Hart.

Some have tried to mischaracterize Judge Jackson’s sentencing record, but the facts are clear: she sentenced more than 100 defendants proportionally to the crime they committed and in line with other judges. That’s why she has the clear support of the law enforcement community, from the Fraternal Order of Police to the International Association of Chiefs of Police to many prominent law enforcement leaders and former US Attorneys from around the country.

Judge Jackson also has support from conservative and Republican legal and judicial voices, including retired Judges Thomas Griffith, Michael Luttig, David Levi (who endorsed Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh), conservative attorney William Burck, and 24 prominent Republican lawyers and other public servants, including former Homeland Security Secretary for President Bush, Michael Chertoff, and a broad range of legal experts – including 500 law professors, 100 general counsels, and attorneys-general of both parties from 40 states and territories.

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